Tactile sensation providing apparatus

Abstract

A tactile sensation providing apparatus capable of providing a tactile sensation to a user at timing maintaining an operation feeling of the user, even when a light pressure load is applied, is provided. The tactile sensation providing apparatus includes a touch sensor configured to detect a touch input, a load detection unit configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor, a tactile sensation providing unit configured to vibrate the touch face, and a control unit configured to adjust a standard for providing a tactile sensation and, when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies the standard, to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit such that the tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the touch face.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tactile sensation providing apparatus comprising:
 a touch sensor configured to detect a touch input of at least one of a plurality of individuals; 
 a load detection unit configured to detect a pressure load on a touch face of the touch sensor; 
 a tactile sensation providing unit configured to vibrate the touch face; and 
 a control unit configured to automatically adjust a standard for providing a tactile sensation to an adjusted standard of load and time for at least one individual of the plurality of individuals, and to control drive of the tactile sensation providing unit such that the tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing the touch face when the pressure load detected by the load detection unit satisfies the adjusted standard. 
 
     
     
       2. A tactile sensation providing apparatus comprising:
 a touch sensor configured to detect a touch input of at least one of a plurality of individuals; 
 a piezoelectric element mounted on the touch sensor; and 
 a control unit configured to automatically adjust a standard for providing a tactile sensation to an adjusted standard of load and time for at least one individual of the plurality of individuals, and to control drive of the piezoelectric element such that the tactile sensation is provided to an object pressing a touch face of the touch sensor when detecting that a pressure load on the touch face of the touch sensor satisfies the adjusted standard based on an output signal of the piezoelectric element.